Three years ago, I nearly lost my eldest son, Francois Bosman, in a motorcycle accident. Thankfully, his life was not lost, but he did have to undergo an emergency amputation, losing his right foot. Our family was, very suddenly, confronted by the reality of the medical expenses attached to saving my son’s life, and then, with his necessity for a prosthesis, confronted with the reality of the expense attached to helping my son rebuild his life. Even though my husband and I have always been able to provide for our family, the sudden need to pay lump sums for our son’s prosthesis was more than we could afford and we were forced to take out a second bond. Added to that, we arranged a golf day in a bid to raise the remaining funds that were needed to cover the costs. It was in the throes of these trying times for my family that I began to realize what a need there is for individuals and families who are impacted by an amputation or disability. Not all families have the option of taking a second bond or arranging a fundraiser and at times, the amputee has, until that pivotal point, been a key contributor or breadwinner for their family. My son, Francois, has since been able to reclaim his independence in being able to move around freely and has regained his sense of purpose and value in his ability to provide for his family. It saddens me to think of individuals who might not be able to continue with their lives in a meaningful way, simply because they are shackled by their financial restrictions. For this reason, I took the initiative to combine my knowledge, honed by two of my passions - my family and my profession as an experienced healthcare professional – and directed it towards an initiative that I believe will make a difference. This is how Prosthetics Assist came into being. Our main goal is to give at least one person a year the opportunity to sustain their life and dignity. As a foundational event for Prosthetics Assist, it is my vision that the Francois Bosman Golf Day becomes an annual event, raising funds and awareness for people in need. I hope to honour my son’s road towards recovery, in the light of such a life-changing trauma and I am sure that his story will serve to inspire so many who have and who will be faced with a similar challenge... hopefully we are able to assist with the reconstruction of lives that are felt to be lost or meaningless and to show people that they matter as much as ever. Yours Faithfully!
